Monday, February 05, 2018

Navy, telecoms to install 4G+ on South China Sea islands

The Chinese navy and
telecommunication corporations are cooperating to upgrade communications
on some South China Sea islands and reefs, the official People's
Liberation Army (PLA) Daily reported Friday.

The PLA Navy's
South China Sea Fleet has signed framework agreements to cooperate with
the Hainan branches of China's three largest telecom operators to
upgrade communications on the Xisha and Nansha islands and reefs.

Once completed in May, the project will bring 4G+ service to the islands and reefs.

The
area, including Sansha city, mostly relies on satellites for current
communications, Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National
Institute for the South China Sea, told the Global Times on Friday.

Installing
a 4G+ network in the Xisha and Nansha islands could be difficult for
China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, Chen said, because of the
wet climate, typhoons, long-distance transmission issues and the
particular island and reef topography.

"Telecommunication
companies faced limitations trying to install facilities in the Xisha
and Nansha islands, but now by cooperating with the navy, the companies
can take advantage of the expertise and resources of the military," he
said.

The companies will build telecommunication base stations on
islands and reefs including Yongxing, Yongshu and Meiji. The operators
have also promised more affordable service packages for users, according
to the report.

The upgrade will not only improve the living
conditions of civilian and military residents but also support fishery,
emergency response, maritime search and rescue and humanitarian relief
efforts in nearby waters, the report said.

"Once the upgrade is
finished, the telecommunication network will become a regional public
service that will massively benefit people who work and live in the
area," Chen said.

It will also be available for international
use. Foreign fishing vessels passing by the area could use the service,
Chen said. "To deliver a 4G signal in the South China Sea also shows
China has sovereign rights to the area," he said.